Kazakhstan’s Transit Freight Volumes Increase 5.6-Fold Over a Decade
Transit freight volumes through Kazakhstan increased 5.6-fold between 2015 and 2025, rising from 6.5 million tons to 36.3 million tons, according to the Bureau of National Statistics.
Transit freight volumes grew by 70.8% in 2025, increasing by 15.1 million tons over the year. The annual volume exceeded 10 million tons for the first time in 2020, reaching 11.6 million tons, before rising to 15.6 million tons in 2022 and 21.3 million tons in 2024.
The growth continued in 2026. According to the government, 32.6 million tons of cargo passed through Kazakhstan in transit between January and September, an increase of 13.1% compared with the same period in 2025. Kazakhstan aims to increase annual transit freight volumes to 100 million tons by 2035. Measures to achieve this target include the construction of new railway lines and the modernization of existing transport infrastructure.
At the same time, official estimates of transit freight volumes for 2025 differ. The Bureau of National Statistics reported 36.3 million tons, while a government report published on Oct. 15 cited 39.1 million tons, representing an annual increase of 18%.
Rail transport accounted for 18.7 million tons of transit freight in 2025, compared with 13.3 million tons in 2024. Another major category comprised vehicle combinations, including tractors with semi-trailers or trailers. Their transit freight volume increased nearly threefold, from 5.7 million tons in 2024 to 16.8 million tons in 2025. Together, the two categories accounted for the majority of transit freight.
Meanwhile, transit shipments of vehicles transported under their own power as commodities declined from 1.8 million tons to 745,900 tons. Other transport categories accounted for comparatively small volumes.
In addition to international transit, Kazakhstan’s transport sector handles domestic, export and import freight. The Bureau of National Statistics reported that all modes of transport carried 712.1 million tons of cargo between January and September 2026. The corresponding figures for the same period were 725.6 million tons in 2023, 782.4 million tons in 2024 and 853.5 million tons in 2025.
The latest figure indicates a 16.6% year-on-year decline. However, the comparison is affected by a change in statistical methodology. For January–September 2026 and the corresponding period of 2025, the bureau excluded empty rail wagons from freight transport calculations. When both periods are calculated using the same methodology, total freight transport increased by 0.9%.
Road and urban electric transport accounted for 270.4 million tons of cargo during the first nine months of 2026. Railways transported 248.5 million tons, compared with 339.4 million tons a year earlier. On a comparable methodological basis, rail freight transport declined by 1.4%. Pipeline transport accounted for 189.8 million tons, while maritime and coastal shipping carried 3 million tons. Inland waterways transported 265,000 tons, and air freight amounted to 20,000 tons.
Revenue from freight, baggage and cargo-baggage transportation across all modes of transport reached 4.5 trillion tenge (US$9.9 billion) in January–September 2026, an increase of 5.3% year on year.
Rail transport generated the largest share of revenue, which increased from 1.7
